New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport today announced that the state has joined the Federal Trade Commission and a bipartisan coalition of 19 other states in suing Dollar General Corporation, accusing the discount retailer of long-running deceptive pricing practices that harmed consumers in the low-income and rural communities it serves.

In a complaint filed Monday, the states and the FTC allege that for years Dollar General routinely charged customers more at the register for food, cleaning supplies, and household staples than the prices displayed on shelves, price tags, and advertisements, costing consumers millions of dollars in unlawful overcharges over a period of years.

“Bait-and-switch pricing hurts New Jersey families who are already struggling just to get by,” said Attorney General Davenport. “Together with the FTC and our fellow states, we are taking action to hold Dollar General accountable and protect New Jerseyans from unlawful pricing practices.”

“New Jersey will not tolerate deceptive pricing, especially when targeted at consumers who can least afford it,” added Christopher Peterson, Acting Director of the Division of Consumer Affairs. “To engage in this kind of commercial conduct as consumers struggle to pay for basic needs is completely unacceptable.”

According to the complaint, Dollar General received tens of thousands of complaints from consumers across the country saying the company did not honor the advertised price, and despite being made aware of the problem, the company failed to implement policies and practices to adequately address it. The complaint alleges the conduct violates the FTC Act, the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, and the New Jersey Consumer Fraud Act.

Dollar General operates stores across Ocean County, including a location on River Avenue in Lakewood.

Joining New Jersey and the FTC in the lawsuit are Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Nebraska, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Utah and Wisconsin.

Deputy Attorney General Christopher Meyer of the Consumer Fraud Prosecution Section is representing the state in the matter.